THE Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB) of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security yesterday commenced 16 days of activism in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Opening with an inter-faith service held on the lawns of the Ministry’s Lamaha and East Street building in Georgetown, the day was observed under the theme: ‘From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s End Gender-Based Violence’.

At the service, leaders of various religious organisations offered prayers and shared their views on the importance of the ‘Elimination of Violence against Women’.
The inter-faith service provided the opportunity for religious leaders and other stakeholders to recognise that issues of violence against girls and women in Guyana and the world cut across religious, social and political lines.

SPEAK OUT

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Ms. Jennifer Webster, in her address to the gathering, said the theme was befiting what happens on a daily basis not only in Guyana but around the world.
Many women suffer at the hands of their partners – it is known as Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and she urged those who have suffered to speak out about their experiences.
She noted that many of our women are still being denied access to justice because it takes time for the investigation process to be completed. In that light, Minister Webster called on lawmakers and investigators to recognise that these are issues which must be addressed in a timely manner because while ‘the grass is growing, the horse is starving’ and women may feel they have nowhere to turn to for support and protection.
“We must all recognise that the time has come for us to pay heed to the cries of women. We cannot have a peaceful society if we do not adhere and respect the rights of women in Guyana. A society which does not uphold the rights of women will always not be a unified society,” she declared.
Administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau, Hymawattie Lagan said that when a woman is being abused, it is not often someone who is a stranger to her; it is typically someone who is very close to her and she urged women who are being abused to ‘think and think hard’ to make the right decision for what is best for themselves.

She said the issue of violence against women was swept under the carpet for a long time but now women are becoming more aware and empowered and they are speaking up. She urged the audience, the women and men, who are a part of violence in their homes or work places, to not let it go silent but to report it to the numerous agencies that can issue support and help such as the Ministry, the Help and Shelter Organisation and the Guyana Police Force.
Also present at the gathering were Assistant Representative of the World Population Fund (UNFPA) Ms. Patrice La Fleur, representatives from various Ministries of the Government, the Women’s Affairs Bureau, religious groups and businesses and organisations around Georgetown.

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
A number of activities will be implemented to observe the 16 days of activism, aimed at ensuring that violence against women can have no place in Guyana’s society. Such activities will include visits to schools and workplaces to interact with students and workers about gender-based violence and numerous television and radio programmes focused on transmitting the message of eliminating violence against girls and women.
On December 17 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organisations and NGOs to organise activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem of violence against women.

(Raveena Mangal)